Sardinella fimbriata (Valenciennes, 1847) FRS

Frequent synonyms / misidentifications: None / Sardinella albella (Valenciennes, 1847); S. gibbosa

(Bleeker, 1849).
FAO names: En - Fringescale sardinella.
Diagnostic characters: Body somewhat compressed but variable, from
slender to moderately deep, depth 25 to 34% of standard length; abdomen
keeled with pre- and postpelvic scutes; total number of scutes 29 to 33
(usually 30 to 32); pelvic scute with ascending arms. Upper jaw rounded
without distinct median notch or cleft. Two supramaxillae present;
second symmetrical, paddle-shaped. Posterior extent of maxilla about
reaching vertical through anterior margin of eye. Teeth on palatines and
pterygoids weakly developed or apparently absent. With 8 to 11
frontoparietal striae on top of head. Two fleshy outgrowths on posterior
margin of gill opening. Opercle smooth, without bony striae. Lower gill rakers 54 to 82 (at 5 to 12 cm
standard length, increasing with size of fish). Branchiostegal rays 6. Dorsal-fin origin distinctly anterior
to body midpoint. Anal-fin base short and lying well posterior to vertical through base of posteriormost
dorsal-fin ray; 2 posteriormost anal-fin rays distinctly enlarged. Pelvic-fin insertion at vertical through
bases of anterior dorsal-fin rays; pelvic fins with i unbranched and 7 branched soft rays. Vertical
striae on scales not meeting at centre, posterior part of scale with a few perforations; without
well-developed posterior median extension of scales (in specimens from South China Sea and off
New Guinea; fish from Indian Ocean have very well developed posterior median extension of
scales). Predorsal scales paired. Lateral-line scales 42 to 44. Colour: back blue-green, flanks silvery; a
dark spot at dorsal-fin origin; tips of caudal and dorsal fins blackish.
Size: Maximum standard length 13 cm, commonly around 11 cm.
Habitat, biology, and fisheries: Coastal, pelagic, schooling. Misidentifications make published biological
data potentially unreliable. Included in general statistics for Sardinella, but of some importance in
southern parts of India (although fishery statistics probably include data for S. gibbosa and/or S. albella).
Caught mainly with purse
seines, lift nets, and set nets.
Marketed fresh, dried,
dried-salted, boiled, or made
into fish balls.
Distribution: Indo-West
Pacific (not in western Indian
Ocean), from southern India
and Bay of Bengal to the
Philippines, Indonesia, and
eastern tip of Papua New
Guinea.
1812 Bony Fishes

?
scale
discontinuous
striae